Arrowhead structure



Feb- 13, 1962 B. D. SMITH 3,021,138

ARRowHEAn STRUCTURE Filed July 6, 1959 v`United p States Patent 3,021,138 ARROWHEAD STRUCTURE Burton l). Smith, Duarte, Calif. (7125 SW. Highway 217, Beaverton, Oreg.) Filed July 6, 1959, Ser. No. 825,324 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-1065) Y The present invention relates to arrowhead structure and has particular reference to arrowhead blades, and ferrules for detachably mounting the blades on the forward end of an arrow shaft.

The conventional hunting arrow used for large game has a broadhead permanently affixed on the forward end of the shaft. The broadhead is kept razor sharp so that if the arrow misses a vital spot it will nevertheless kill effectively by severing arteries and vessels, causing the animal rapidly to bleed to death. Otherwise, with a dull blade, arteries and vessels tend to ride up and over it during passage and, unless a vital spot is hit, the animal will escape only to suffer unnecessarily.

The razor sharp arrowhead permanently connected on the end of the arrow shaft poses certain problems. Among these first may be mentioned that such arrows are extremely dangerous objects and must be treated as such at all times. Secondly, the hunter who conveniently carries only a few arrows is burdened with the problem of sharpening arrowheads in the field as they become dulled and nicked; and, the frequent sharpening of arrowheads eventually causes them to lose sufficient weight to upset the balance of the arrow. Moreover, the likelihood of dulling, nicking or breaking the arrowhead discourages the otherwise desirable use of hunting arrows for practice warm-up shots in the field. Replacing a worn or broken arrowhead is a tedious operation because of the strong permanent-type connection required between the arrow shaft and the arrowhead.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an arrowhead structure including a ferrule adapted to be fixed on the forward end of an arrow shaft, and a cooperating substantially flat blade detachably insertable onto said ferrule. The ferrule has a body, a leading locating lug centered across the front end of the body, and a pair of substantially coextensive spaced flanges which extend laterally from each of opposite sides of the body approximately in a common plane with the leading lug, with each pair of flanges defining therebetween an open longitudinal channel. The rear outline of the cooperating blade has a deep central recess, the crotch of which matches the front configuration of the leading locating lug of the ferrule and portions of the surrounding margin of which fit within the longitudinal channels of the ferrule. Further, means are provided for releasably locking the blade on the ferrule.

A ferrule constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a pair of trailing locating lugs respectively disposed on opposite sides of the body in the channels formed between the flanges. The ferrule is made from two mating half sections having body portions which cooperate to define a socket for the front end of an arrow shaft. The half sections have forward positions in the form of substantially flat tabs held together to form the leading lug, and laterally extending side portions or flanges held together in spaced relationship by cross members which form the trailing lugs. Further, a detachable arrowhead blade constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a substantially flat body having a forward outline and a rear outline, with the rear outline of the body having a deep central recess and two relatively shallow recesses disposed respectively on opposite sides of the central recess, whereby the body has a major and two minor bifurcations looking rearwardly thereof.

Thus in accordance with the present invention, the main blade itself, not a mere appendage thereto, is detachable. The structure is simple, and the combined ferrule and blade neither add nor detract materially from the normal size, weight and shape of the conventional arrowhead. Combined with the foregoing characteristics is the important fact that the ferrule provides a firm and stable support for the blade so that the composite structure is comparable in strength and stability to the conventional one-piece arrowhead. The importance of this becomes obvious when one considers the force and impact to which the arrowhead is subject, and related facts such as the fact that distortion of the arrowhead affects the flight of the arrow.

The problems pointed out with respect to the conventional arrowhead as related to the requirement that it should have a razor-sharp edge are substantially resolved by the arrowhead of the present invention. Thus employing the arrowhead structure of the present invention, one can easily remove the sharp blade from the arrows so that they are not dangerous to keep or transport. The hunter n the field can easily carry extra blades and insert new blades as needed, leaving his sharpening problems at home. There is less deterrent to the use of hunting arrows for practice warm-up shots, and the replacement problem arising frorn blade breakage or from the eventual loss in weight due to sharpening is less consequential, both in terms of time and money.

The preferred embodiment of the arrowhead structure of the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a detachable arrowhead blade constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view partially cut away showing the blade of FIG. 1 inserted onto and locked to a ferrule constructed in accordance with the present invention, the ferrule being in turn affixed to the forward end of an arrow shaft;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the ferrule of FIGS. 2 and 3 with the blade and shaft removed; and,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a detachable arrowhead blade lil, and a cooperating ferrule 12 for mounting the blade on the forward end of an arrow shaft 14. The blade and ferrule are made of steel and, together assembled, have the form of a broadhead, as shown.

The ferrule 12 comprises two mating half sections 16, 18 having bodyv portions 20, 22 respectively which together constitute the body of the ferrule and which cooperate to define a socket 24 for the front end of the arrow shaft 14. The ferrule is permanently connected on the front end of the arrow shaft with conventional heat setting cement.

The mating half sections 16, 18 have forward portions in the form of substantially flat tabs Z6, 28 respectively. The tabs are held together by a rivet 30. Together, they form a leading locating lug 32 which extends centrally across the front end of the body.

The first half section 16 has laterally extending opposite side portions or flanges 34 and 36. These flanges are paired with similar flanges 38, 40 respectively of the second half section 18. The result is a first pair of spaced and substantially coextensive flanges 34, 38 which define therebetween an open longitudinal channel 42, and a second and similar pair of spaced and substantially co- :mamasy extensive flanges 36, 40 which define therebetween a second and similar open longitudinal channel 44. The two `pairs of anges extend from opposite sides `of the body' of the ferrule, approximatelyI in a common planet with the leading locating lug.

The flanges 34, 38 of the lirst' pair are securely held in spaced relationship by a tirst cross member 46 disposed outwardly from the body of the ferrule and consisting of an annular spacer 48 secured in the channel 42 be-- tween theI flanges by a rivet S'. The annular spacer 48I acts as a first trailing locating lug.

Similarly, the anges 36, 40 ofthe second pair are se.- curely held in spaced' relationship by a cross member 52 disposed outwardly from the body of the ferrule and consisting of an annular spacer 54 secured in the channel 44V between the flanges by a rivet 56'. The annular spacer 54 acts as a second trailing locating lug, correspondingly disposed on the opposite side of the body of the ferrule with respect to the first trailing locating lug.

The cooperating blade is a at piece of steel having a razor sharp-leading edge 58. Its front outline, as defined by this edge, is that of the conventional broadhead. Itf may,r of course, have a dilerent front outline than that illustrated. The trailing edge or rear outline of the blade is bluntand has formed therein a relatively deep central recess 60, and tworelatively shallow recesses 62, 64 disposed respectively on opposite sides of the'centralI recess,rwhereby the blade has one major andv two minor bifurcations` looking rearwardly thereof. A` notch 66 isL formed on the inner edge of a portion 67 of the blade lying between the central recess 604 and side recess 62; and, a corresponding notch 68 is formed on the inner. edge of a portion 69 of the blade lying between thecentral'recess S0-and the other side recess 64.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the crotches. of-` the central and side recesses of the blade are semicircular and the recesses are open and unobstructed along the rearwardv longitudinal projection of their crotches. The front. surfaces of the leading-and trailing locating lugs are al'sosernicircular, and match the crotches of the central and side recesses respectively both in configuration and' irl-relative location.

The blade 10 may be inserted onto the ferrule 12 toa position where the leading locating'y lug abuts the crotch off the` central recess 60fwith portions 70, 72 ofthe margin of the central and side recesses fitting within the longitu-L dinal channels 42, 44 and with the crotch of each side recess abutting respectively the corresponding trailinglocating lug. The mounted blade is disposed approximately in a common plane with the anges and locating lugs so thatl the combinedv configuration is that of the conventional arrowhead, while at the same time, an extremelyf stable and solid! support s provided for the bladeon the ferrule.

The blade 101 may be releasably'locked'n position on ferrule 12 by means of an open ended snap ring 74fwhichengages the portions 67, 69 of the blade between the central and' side recesses. The tirst halfsection 16 of the ferrule has formed in its` body portion 2.0 a laterallyv ings 78, 80 drilled respectively through each pair of, flanges at a location adjacent the body of the ferrule. When the blade 10 is inserted into the ferrule so that the crotches of the recesses abut the locating lugs, the notches 66, 68 register with the openings 78,` 80 so that the snap ring 74 may be inserted. The. snap ring is itself notched at opposite ends and conventionally, like a small spring, may be pressed into place whereby its notched ends snap outwardly over the. slanted edges of the notches 66, 68 in the blade, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The interposition of the snap ring in the openings 78, 80 and within the notches 66, 68 locks the blade, to the ferrule, and` the notched4 ends of the snap ring itself secure the snap` ring in position by locking over the blade.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the arrow shaft is indented slightly at 82 to accommodate the snap ring so that, as. best seen in FIG. 3, the snap ring does not protrudey from theY body of the ferrule, but lies substantially even with the surface of theferrule.

I claim:

Anarrowhead construction comprisingA a ferruleadapted toi be fixed on the forward end of an arrowshaft, the ferrule having a body, a solid leading locating lug centered across the front end of the body, a pair of substantially coextensive spacedrllanges extending lateral* ly from each ofT opposite. sides. of. the body and. approxi.- mately in af common. plane withA the leading lug, each` pair of anges defining therebetween an open longitu dinal channel, and also having a pair of trailing locating` lugs respectively interconnecting said spaced flanges of. each pair on` oppositey sides of the body and extending across said channels, said ferrule having an openingz through each pair of llangesv and` an open slot whichex tendsflaterally around its body between said openings in. the anges, a cooperating substantially Hat blade detach-v ably insertable on said fel-rule,` the rear outline of the. bladev having ay deep central recess and a relatively sha1-- low recess on each side` ofthe central recess, with the crotches of the central andv side recesses matching the. front configuration ofv the. leading and trailing locating lugsrespectively for. abutting1 thesame and with portions of4 the blade between the central andz side recesses fitting, within: said longitudinal. channels; said portions. of. the blade located between the. central and siderecesseshaving; notches therein. which; register with the openings through'l the-hangen, and., locking means engageable. with said portions of thev blade located betweenv the central and side recesses. for releaseably locking the blade on the fel-rule,I

theY locking means comprising an open ended snap ring,v which lits. intov said slot with its: opposite ends extending through said. openings in the anges and registering notches inthe blade.

References Cited in the tileof this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

